Bradley Manning’s attorney posted a Thank You note on his defense blog today. Here is the comment I made there:

Beware of being blindsided in this trial by the “Separate Society” BS of Parker v Levy. If this tribunal convicts it will have been a sham, as Mr. Obama has already said, pre-trial, that Manning was guilty – “He broke the law.”

Because Mr. Obama said this while acting as President – the top of the Chain of Command for the “Separate Society”; a President must actually issue a Pardon for Manning, seems to me.

Here is a piece I wrote in 2011, “Pardon Bradley Manning Mr. Obama” http://bit.ly/PardonBrad It includes audio of both the final arguments and the reading of the verdict in Parker v Levy, which held that a US Military Officers did not enjoy the Free Speech protections of the First Amendment because the military was – they held – a “Separate Society” and it’s members had their own unique judiciary under the UCMJ.

Manning must be pardoned. And Parker v Levy must be overturned. In my opinion nothing less will undo the damage of how the executive branch has behaved towards Manning, particularly during his tenure at Quantico.

Bradley Manning is a good Soldier who does not obey unlawful orders. If he actually leaked anything it was in fulfillment of his Oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, domestic and foreign.

President Obama, do You seriously want to try to expand Parker v Levy [1][2][3]and the “Separate Society” of UCMJ in this climate? Sure, maybe You can get SCOTUS to go along, but if You do You may have a revolt. And if SCOTUS doesn’t go along You risk the bullshit decision of Parker v Levy being overturned.